|
|
Mr. Kari Porra, Environmental Director, City of Lahti Mr. Porra opened the seminar by telling about the background of the water protection co-operation. |
|
|
Mr. LMS Mngqikana, Ambassador of South Africa, Mr. Mngqikana emphasized the importance of cooperation in solving environmental problems and stated that South Africa has a special task to support the development of whole African continent. He also stressed that the shortage of pure water has a strong effect on the health of the people and the development of the country. |
|
|
Mr. Ismo Malin, Head of Water Protection, Lahti Region Environmental Service, Mr. Ismo Malin concentrated on surface water protection in Lahti, considering Lake Vesijärvi and few smaller lakes. The biggest problem with the lakes is eutrophication but also rivers are strained because of waste water discharging. Even though Lake Vesijärvi has been improved remarkably from its worst state, the quality of water has been varying. Also, the lake has still experienced shortage of oxygen. |
|
|
Ms. Mirka Autio, Planner, Lahti Region Environmental Service, Ms. Mirka Autio presented the recent findings in nutrient load monitoring of Lake Vesijärvi. The lake has a history of eutrophication and external load is still a problem. Monitoring the different sources of nutrients helps in finding the best ways and right places for decreasing the amount of nutrient loading. Nutrient monitoring includes monitoring of air fallout, storm waters and stream and river inflows. |
|
|
Mr. Petrus Venter, Acting Director, Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Mr. Petrus Venter is a program leader of DWA for Harties metsi a me project which is aiming to rehabilitate a badly eutrophic water reservoir, Hartbeespoort Dam. Mr. Venter addressed the issue of desertification which is a severe problem in South Africa. When the vegetation is depleted, desertification proceeds rapidly as the lack of vegetation cover results in stronger heat radiation and the absence of clouds. According to Mr. Venter, the importance of vegetation should be considered more because it blocks out heat waves, wind and evaporation, decreases erosion as well as sustains biodiversity. |
|
|
Mr. Sameer Morar, Program Manager, Rand Water Ltd, Mr. Sameer Morar told about the massive algal blooms and the poor water quality of the Hartbeespoort dam which cause environmental and health risks and restrict recreational activities. As the dam is still used as potable water source, the purification of water has become more and more challenging. Harties Metsi a Me programme has implemented several remediation operations both in the dam basin and in the catchment area. For example, food web restructuring has been started and biomass is harvested and removed. Also, shoreline vegetation has been re-established and floating wetlands constructed to support the food web restructuring. |
|
|
Ms. Marianne Siri, Planner, Lahti Region Environmental Service, Ms. Marianne Siri introduced her final thesis “Development Proposals to the Water Monitoring and Management of Hartbeespoort Dam” made together with Ms. Sirpa Kokkinen. Most central development proposals of the study were the construction of sedimentation basins and buffer zones, a composting dry latrine project as well as intensification of phosphorus removal and fishery management. The leading principle was the reduction of external load. Development proposals for monitoring included the utilization of automatic measurement and atmospheric deposit monitoring. |
|
|
Mr. Paul Sewor, Head of the Municipal Water and Sanitation Team, Ho, The Water and Sanitation Team was established in 1993 to facilitate the access to potable water in rural communities. Mr. Sewor presented the dry toilet project initiated at one of the schools in Ho Township through the North South Cooperation. The dry toilet technology has provided a new solution to help with water pollution caused by pit latrines and lack of sanitation facilities. The Water and Sanitation Team now promotes the system in Ho. |
|
|
Ms. Hanna Laaksonen, Project Manager, Lahti Science and Business Park, Ms. Hanna Laaksonen introduced the Stormwater project that concentrates on finding new solutions and business opportunities for urban areas facing stormwater challenges. The project has an innovative approach as it brings together three different sectors: scientific sector i.e. the universities, commercial sector and the municipal partners. Thus, the information providers are directly connected to information users and the real life situations they face. |
|
|
Mr. Heikki Mäkinen, Program Director, Lake Vesijärvi Foundation, Mr. Heikki Mäkinen explored the issue of collaborative planning and stakeholder involvement in the remediation of Lake Vesijärvi. He highlighted the importance of social capital, i.e. commitment and mutual trust, in lake management. Social capital can be achieved through communication, collaboration and education. In the Lake Vesijärvi case, the most long lasting private-public cooperation has been between municipal authorities and local fishermen. This resulted in successful biomanipulation activities that are still ongoing. Nowadays, a more widespread cooperation between various stakeholders has been established. |
|
|
June 2010 Study tour comments Ms. Sari Huuhtanen, Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland Ms. Sari Huuhtanen led a dry toilet workshop where the participants from Bojanala and Ho shared experiences and information about dry toilet projects in their areas. |
|
|
June 2010 Study tour comments Mr. Sameer Morar, Rand Water Ltd Mr. Sameer Morar is involved in Harties metsi a me project via the water company Rand Water Ltd. The reason why Rand Water initially came involved in the project was that 42 % of the water supplied by Rand Water is returned to the dam as inflow. |
|
|
June 2010 Study tour comments Mr. Petrus Venter, Department of Water Affairs (DWA)
|
|
|
June 2010 Study tour comments Ms. Mamorena Ramosoeu, Rand Water Ltd
|
|
|
Planning and implementing the project Geetesh Daya, Director of Technical Services, BPDM, 15 min Mr. Daya tells about the history and the development of the co-operation. He also expresses his hopes about the future of the co-operation and how the planning and implementation should be developed. Project history in BPDM |
 |
Hartbeespoort Dam remediation, 2009 Petrus Venter, Acting director, DWA, 7 min |
 |
Waste and water management in BPDM, March 2009 Bhikhubhai Kanjee, Co-operation coordinator, BPDM, 6 min Through the co-operation, BPDM has been able to learn about implementing waste management and can now benchmark their waste site development. However, Mr. Kanjee also points out that new development in waste management is needed continuously in North as well as in South and progress can be enhanced through mutual learning in co-operation. He also explains the role BPDM has in the waste management as a district level actor. |
 |
Waste and water management in BPDM, March 2009 Waste management in BPDM, March 2009 The waste management centre, Pilleri, at Lahti has been a model for the development of a waste management centre in Rustenburg. The system is unique in South-Africa and could work as a showcase also for neighbouring countries. Mr. Senne discusses the benefits gained through the co-operation and how the transfer of skills and ideas has aided the waste management development in Rustenburg. |
 |
Waste and water management in BPDM, March 2009 Thatsi Ramagaga, Director of Engineering Service, Moses Kotane, 6 min Mr. Ramagaga notes that the cooperation is an important way to learn from one another and to further the development of service delivery in Moses Kotane. He hopes that more practical projects would be implemented in Moses Kotane through the cooperation in the future. |
 |
Environmental awareness in BPDM, March 2009 Kgomotso Setshedi, Environmental Education Officer, BPDM, 14 min Regarding environmental awareness and related activities, BPDM is currently ahead of other districts in the North-West Province. Mrs. Setshedi tells about the Lahti-style awareness week that has been a success story in BPDM as well as about other environmental awareness activities implemented in BPDM. She also discusses her work and the challenges she encounters in raising environmental awareness. |
 |
Environmental awareness in BPDM, March 2009 Peter Molelekeng, Executive Mayor, Moses Kotane, 11 min Mr. Molelekeng proposed an environmental school exchange programme, where one school from Moses Kotane could be linked with a school in Finland to share information about environmental education. |
 |
Recycling programme 2010 football World Cup, Rustenburg Royal Bafokeng football stadion, 2 min |
 |
Getting ready for the 2010 Football World Cup, Rustenburg, March 2009 Football match, South-Africa -Norway, 6 min Rustenburg is one of the hosts of the Football World Cup 2010. The cooperation has been involved in the development of recycling in and around the stadium. |
 |
Environmental management of the Royal Bafokeng Holdings, Rustenburg, March 2009 Reotsepile Tlhapane, Environmental Manager, Royal Bafokeng Holdings, 8 min Ms. Tlhapane tells about her job as an environmental manager of the Royal Bafokeng Holdings. One of the main concerns in the area is the impact of mining on the environment. Ms. Tlhapane co-operates with the mines, government departments and the community to address the environmental issues. |
 |
Co-operation with Bafokeng Nation, March 2009 Semane Molotlegi, Queen mother, Bafokeng Nation, 8 min Co-operation with the Bafokeng Nation is discussed. The remediation of the Bospoort Dam and the Greening of Rustenburg 2010 program both involve the Bafokeng Nation. The Queen Mother of the Bafokeng Nation talks about gender issues and the willingness of women to join the project. |
 |
Sustainable development in the mining industry, March 2009 Elzanne Moodie, Xstrata Alloys 10 min Ms. Elzanne Moodie tells about the sustainability work done by Xstrata Alloys and the company’s involvement in the co-operation. Ms. Moodie participated in an environmental technology seminar in Lahti 2008. The visit increased her interaction between the Southern partners of the co-operation both professionally and personally. |
 |
Waste management peer review in Lahti, September 2009 Bhikhubai Kanjee, co-operation coordinator, BPDM & Walter Senne, Head of Waste Management Unit, Rustenburg 14 min Mr. Kanjee and Mr. Senne visited the Kujala waste site in Lahti to review the recent development in waste management, especially in the point of view of climate change mitigation. |
 |
Study Tour comments June 2009, Lahti Petrus Venter, DWA, 5 min Mr. Venter present the impacts that the co-operation has had on the Hartbeespoort Dam’s remediation process during a visit to the Finnish Foreign Ministry. Commitment to the remediation program is currently strong in South. Hartbeespoort could also set an example for the remediation of other lakes in South-Africa. |
 |
Study Tour comments June 2009, Lahti Sebenzile Ntshangase, Water Pollution Control Officer, DWA, 6 min Representatives of the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Royal Bafokeng Holdings and South-African Local Government Association (SALGA) visited Lahti in June 2009. The theme of the co-operation visit was water protection and environmental education. |
 |
Study Tour comments 2009, Lahti Botshe Molokwane, Assistant Director of Water Quality Management, DWA, 6 min |
 |
Study Tour comments 2009, Lahti Reotsepile Tlhapane, Environmental Manager, Royal Bafokeng holdinds, 7 min |
 |
Study Tour comments 2009, Lahti Khethekile Mathonsi, Director of International Relations SALGA, 7 min |
 |
Kehitysavun trendejä ja tulevaisuutta Suurlähettiläs Heikki Tuunanen, 17 min |
.jpg)